Driving dynamics
The most surprising thing about the 2008 Nissan Rogue is found on the road. In all honesty, I have always admired continuously variable transmissions (CVT), although I was never really able to appreciate the fun they reportedly bring. This time, however, it's different. Nissan engineers added a manual mode with 6 "preset" gears (artificial but still effective), allowing the driver to feel more connected to the 170-hp, 2.5L engine.

This compact SUV is unquestionably fun to drive and it almost handles like a midsize sedan.

Paddle shifters are mounted on the steering wheel to allow fingertip shifting, much like in a Formula One car. True, accelerations are not hair-raising, but the Rogue is no slouch either: 0 to 100 km/h in less than 10 seconds (in February). Likewise, gear shifts are longish, but you can still have fun while revving up the engine as Nissan's Xtronic unit produces no whistling sound like most typical CVTs.

Meanwhile, the steering is linear and pleasant to work with, offering good feedback from the road. I also liked the effectiveness and transparency of the Rogue's Intuitive All-Wheel Drive system, not to mention the stability and traction control systems which are both responsive yet not too intrusive.

All in all, this compact SUV is unquestionably fun to drive and it almost handles like a midsize sedan. The only real flaw is the disappointing fuel economy. Even with gentle use of the throttle, I could not get a better highway-city average than 11.3 L/100 km. That's much higher than what I had previously achieved with some of its biggest rivals. Of course, my road test took place last winter in less-than-ideal conditions. Moreover, the AWD system adds weight to the vehicle, which does not help. So let's give the Rogue the benefit of the doubt.


Photo Credit : Luc Gagné